Celtics Can’t Finish

The Celtics trailed by one point with about 24 second left in the game, they got a rebound and headed up the court. What happened in the remaining seconds of the game is just as unbelievable now as when it happened. They took some time off the clock and got the ball to Paul Pierce. He was swarmed at the foul line and could not do anything with the ball. The Celtics never got a shot off. Eventually the officials called a jump ball with 6/10ths of a second remaining, essentially ending the ballgame, and the Celtics saw their five game winning streak come to an end, 96-95 (live blog) at the hands of the Golden State Warriors.

Peter May says that the ending “defies logic” – an apt description for the final seconds of the contest. Steve Bulpett says that the Celtics are going to have a hard time explain this one to themselves. Bill Doyle looks at the Warriors bottling up Pierce in the closing seconds to preserve the win for themselves.

Mark Murphy has a look at Al Jefferson’s night, as the young big man recorded another double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds) but struggled mightily for much of the night, resulting in a couple of benchings by coach Doc Rivers. Frank Dell’Apa has Jefferson disappointed in his play, but vowing to bounce back and continue to get better. Mike Fine has the Celtics happy to get Ryan Gomes back in time for last night’s game.

Never a big Paul Pierce fan, Bill Reynolds says he is one now, noting that we’re seeing an all-time great Celtic in his prime right now. Buddy Thomas isn’t a fan of the NBA, period. Michael Muldoon says a deal for Allen Iverson makes sense for Denver, not so much for the Celtics.

Dell’Apa looks at Warriors coach and former Celtic Don Nelson as someone who really saw the possibilities for foreign players in the league, as early as the 1980’s and helped start the movement to bring them into the league when he signed Sarunas Marciulionis in 1990. You can check the stories from the West coast on the Bay Area Sports Pages.

Bulpett’s notebook has Pierce saying that adding Allen Iverson would’ve be nice for the Celtics, but he likes the direction the team is headed in anyway. May’s notebook has Pierce saying that Denver will be a great destination for Iverson. Doyle’s notebook has Brian Scalabrine out of last night’s game with the flu, but Ryan Gomes returning, and new hope that Wally Szczerbiak can return at some point during the upcoming road trip.

Patriots

Karen Guregian says that all signs are pointing towards a Rodney Harrison return to the field on Sunday. We hear a lot of talk about the two-minute offense, but Shalise Manza Young takes a look at the two-minute defense for the Patriots, an area where they have been very good this season. Christopher Price also looks at the two minute defense for the Patriots. Michael Parente has the Patriots preparing for another “rock fight” with the Jaguars. Eric McHugh revisits last year’s playoff game with the Jaguars and notes that whether or not Benjamin Watson plays this Sunday could be a big factor in the game. Chris Ryan notes that the Patriots backups have done a fine job stepping in this season.

Mike Reiss has the Patriots players looking past the Pro Bowl selections and setting their sights on bigger goals, starting with a playoff berth with a win on Sunday. Alan Greenberg has Tom Brady aiming for the Super Bow, not the Pro Bowl. Albert Breer has the Patriots dusting off the respect card as motivation. Ian Clark writes that the snubs were the theme of the day at Gillette yesterday. Jennifer Toland has Richard Seymour feeling blessed and humbled at his fifth Pro Bowl selection. Christopher Price has more from Seymour on the selection, as does Mark Farinella.

Dan Duggan looks at former Marshfield High star Ryan Gibbons, who is on the practice squad for the Jaguars. Get the Jaguars view on Jacksonville.com.

Bill Doyle’s Tuning In has new Red Sox radio guy Dave O’Brien speaking about his new role with the team he grew up watching.

Jeff Horrigan has the Red Sox still optimistic that the J.D. Drew deal will be worked out. Jon Couture says that the constant roster shuffling is just part of baseball today.

Bruins/Misc

Stephen Harris has Bruins coach Dave Lewis and several players speaking about the difference between Eastern and Western hockey. Fluto Shinzawa looks at the Bruins developing two scoring lines. Harris’ notebook has P.J. Axelsson taking a step forward.